The Abu Dhabi Education Council, ADEC, on Tuesday officially launched the "My Identity" Programme, which will include the first stage of establishing a national identity and basic moral values in all public and private schools with the beginning of the new school year 2017-2018.

The application of the "My Identity" Programme includes all private and public schools for the school stages from kindergarten until the fifth grade. The second stage in the year 2018-2019 will include sixth to twelfth grade, while in 2019-2020 there will be an evaluation and encompassing review of the programme.

The enriching programme aims to strengthen and establish a national identity among Emirati students, as well as increase appreciation for this identity among students who are residents of the UAE. The aim is to contribute to building a consolidated Emirati community that holds on to its identity.

Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director-General of the ADEC, stressed the importance of establishing a national identity for children and preparing a generation that is aware, cultured, loyal, proud of their identity, and capable of facing the challenges to become good citizens.

He thanked H.H. Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, wife of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, for her initiative in launching the programme to strengthen national identity among school students and for her unlimited support in ensuring its success.

The programme is based on culture, community, values, Arabic language, history, citizenship, and belonging. Its output will be reviewed after each stage. Four guides were issued in English and Arabic for this purpose, namely the teacher’s guide, the school administration guide, the general frame of the curriculum, and the application guide. They will be distributed as hard and soft copies to all public and private schools to explain the requirements of the programme and implement it successfully.

During the pilot phase, workshops were organised and school leaders were given the general frame of the curriculum, which helps imbibe a deep meaning of national identity and achieve sustainability. A total of 64 percent of private schools participating in the pilot phase implemented the programme successfully.